Benzocaine, a topical local anesthetic, could be useful in the treatment of premature ejaculation (PE), experts say.

In a recent study presented in May at the American Urological Association’s (AUA) annual meeting in Boston, men who used 4% benzocaine wipes developed better ejaculatory control than those who used a placebo wipe. The study was funded by Veru Healthcare, the manufacturer of the benzocaine wipes.

Rapid ejaculation is a common complaint, with up to a third of men between the ages of 18 and 59 reporting symptoms, according to the AUA. Some men apply desensitizing creams or sprays, use condoms, or masturbate before intercourse in an effort to prolong their intravaginal ejaculatory latency time (IELT – the time between partner penetration and ejaculation). Other common therapies include psychological and behavioral methods and off-label use of medications such as antidepressants. But these methods each have unique adverse effects.

The current study included twenty-one heterosexual men with PE. All of them were in monogamous relationships. They were considered to have PE by reporting poor control, personal distress, and an IELT at or below two minutes.

Fifteen men were randomly chosen to use the benzocaine wipe before sex. The remaining 6 used a placebo wipe.

At baseline, the men’s IELT was 74.3 seconds for the treatment group and 84.9 seconds for the placebo group. At a two-month follow-up point, the treatment group’s mean IELT had increased by 231.5 seconds, compared to the placebo group’s increase of 94.2 seconds.

After two months, 80% of the men in the treatment group had an IELT of at least two minutes. In the placebo group, only a third of the men reached this benchmark.

Men in the treatment group also said they felt less distress over ejaculation and more satisfaction with intercourse overall. Benzocaine was well-tolerated, and there were no reports of transference to a partner. These findings are consistent with other studies of topical therapies which have also shown improvements in IELT with treatment.

In a press release, AUA spokesperson Tobias S. Köhler, MD, MPH, FACS said, “This study is encouraging in demonstrating a new and innovative way to reduce the symptoms of premature ejaculation. Premature ejaculation can cause a variety of issues related to negative feelings and emotions that can lead to problems with sexual relationships. This data shows topical 4% benzocaine wipes is a promising therapy to treat the most common form of sexual dysfunction among men.”